The Confederation of Indian Pharmaceutical Industries' (CIPI) two-day executive committee meeting held in Chennai on Feb 2 and 3 to elect new office-bearers including its chairman proved to be a damp squib as the election has been postponed to April-May. Now, election will be held after making the necessary amendments in the Confederation's constitution.

After postponing the election, the CIPI executive committee meeting, which was attended by members from across the country, discussed the strategies to be adopted on the pending cases in Madras high court on the FDC issue.

There are three cases pending in the Madras high court, all were filed under the aegis of CIPI against former DCGI's order asking for withdrawal of licenses to combination drugs. The court granted stay orders on all these cases including the DCGI's order invoking section 33(p) of Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

The DCGI has already filed the counter affidavit in the court. Now, the court will take up the case and ask for the response of CIPI on the counter affidavits filed by the DCGI. The CIPI executive committee meeting discussed these issues threadbare.

The meeting also discussed the issue of formulation industry being separated from the bulk trades. The meeting decided to appeal to the union government to treat the formulation industries separately from the bulk trades and also make separate provisions regarding pollution control issues and excise duty.

Though the meeting was a smooth affair unlike the previous meetings, the election process could not be completed. CIPI sources said that the election may be conducted in April or May and the present chairman T Jaishankar, who led the industry from the front in its fight against former DCGI's campaign against FDC drugs, will continue as chairman.